No matter how they travel from place to place, consumers will soon be buckling up for an unforgettable ride with Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom friends. The Mario Kart 7 game launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS hand-held system on December 4, adding a wild new installment in Nintendo’s fan-favourite racing franchise. Players of any experience level will get to drive, glide through the air and dive underwater for the first time in Mario Kart 7. They will also discover new customizable karts, new courses and abilities, Community features and multiplayer options that allow up to eight friends to race together wirelessly. Best of all, the game makes use of the remarkable capabilities of Nintendo 3DS with access to StreetPass and SpotPass content and the ability to play in full 3D without the need for special glasses. Mario Kart 7 will be offered at a suggested retail price of $39.99 in Canada.

Mario Kart 7 offers a fun, personalized Mario Kart experience by allowing players to race as their favourite Mushroom Kingdom character or their own Mii character. They can even trick out their karts with a new set of customization options, including tires, chassis and gliders tailored to each player’s preferred racing style. For the first time in the series, Mario Kart 7 allows racers not only to zoom around outrageous road tracks but also to soar through the air using a glider and dive beneath the sea using a propeller. In addition to classic courses such as Koopa Beach and Luigi’s Mansion, new courses in the game include diving into Cheep Cheep Lagoon and gliding through Shy Guy Bazaar, plus courses set in the jungles of Donkey Kong Country Returns and on Wuhu Island from Wii Sports Resort.

“Seven is truly a lucky number for Mario Kart fans,” said Ron Bertram, Nintendo of Canada’s vice-president and general manager. “Whether you’re new to the franchise or a veteran kart competitor, there are loads of new customization features and 3D courses to enjoy with your friends and family. Without a doubt, it’s the most exhilarating Mario Kart game Nintendo has ever created, and it’s only available on Nintendo 3DS.”

Players can race against friends using a local wireless connection, or challenge opponents from around the globe via a broadband Internet connection. As many as eight players can race together in real time. The new Community feature also allows players to join forces with other Mario Kart fans and create groups with their own specific rules and customized racing environments. Communities and Community leaderboards will track the top-scoring members. Players can also choose to share ghost data and challenge one another to beat their fastest times.

Solo players can race through the game’s Grand Prix and Time Trial modes using either the Circle Pad or the motion-sensitive gyro sensor of Nintendo 3DS to steer their karts. The motion controls also allow players to control their karts in a first-person perspective, another first for the Mario Kart franchise.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit nintendo.com/3ds.